I initially thought "Coping with Trauma-Related Dissociation" would be overly complex and written for psychologists or psychiatrists. In fact it is really written for both patient and doctor or therapist. I was impressed with how caring the authors came across. They truly understand dissociative disorders on all levels. This book covers Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS).
While I am no expert on these disorders I know a good book when I read one. I thought the advice in this book and the skills for coping with the disorders were excellent. The advice for people who have many parts or personalities was especially helpful. I liked how the authors suggested creating an inner world or safe place in the mind for scared, angry or fearful parts to go when needed.
Some of the issues dealt with in this book include a sense of involuntariness, becoming emotionally numb, amnesia, depersonalization, derealization, isolation, eating habits, abuse, insomnia, losing track of time, loneliness, self-harm, anger, shame, phobias of inner experience, relaxation exercises, numerous personalities at war with each other and guilt. There are also sections that teach you how to deal with stressful family situations or work situations.
The sections on homework assignments take the process of dealing with the disorders to new levels. One assignment deals with healthy core beliefs and analyzes negative and positive beliefs.
What this book really explained well is how parts of the self are stuck in what the authors call "trauma-time." They discuss triggers that can lead you to feeling bad. Like if you feel anxious over going to a doctor's appointment there is advice on how to get in and out of the doctor's office more easily by going at a time when there are less patients waiting, say like immediately after lunch.
I'd recommend this to anyone with a dissociative disorder or to doctors, therapists, psychologists, nurses and psychiatrists who deal with these disorders.
~The Rebecca Review